Well completion equipment having rotatable hanger bushings



1964 J. D. WATTS ETAL ,6

WELL COMPLETION EQUIPMENT HAVING ROTATABLE HANGER BUSHINGS Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Jonu D. WATTS JAME5 C. \QELAND DODEDT L. CDAlN ATTORNEYS BY WQ m/ MM 1964 .1. D. WATTS ETAL 3,118,690"

WELL COMPLETION EQUIPMENT HAVING ROTATABLE HANGER BUSH INGS I Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l i I 53 F i g 2 INVENTORS Joan D. WATTS JAMES C. \QELAND QODEQT L. CENN BY W 7 W ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1964 J. D. WATTS ETAL 3,118,690

WELL COMPLETION EQUIPMENT l IAVING ROTATABLE HANGER BUSHINGS Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JoHN D. Wms Juan C. hzumw QOBEQT L. CQMN ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1964 J. D. WATTS ETAL WELL COMPLETION EQUIPMENT HAVING ROTATABLE HANGER BUSHINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1, 1960 INVENTORS D. WATTS JAMEj C. 112mm:

JOHN

DObED'T L. CIZNN Mw J, W

ATTORNEYS United States l atent '0 3 118,699 WELL COMR LETIGN EQUIPMENT HAVENG ROTATABLE HANGER BUSHINGS John D. Watts, dairies C. Ireland, and Robert L. Crain,

Houston, Tenn, assignors to Gray Tool Company, Houston, Tern, a corporation of Texas Filed Apr. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 19,323 8 Qlairns. (Ci. 285137) This invention relates to well completion equipment and more particularly to equipment for the multiple completion of oil wells and the like. This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application Serial No. 755,93 3, filed August 19, 1958 now Patent No. 3,080,181.

In the above-mentioned application there is disclosed multiple well completion equipment embodying a pair of hanger units which are arranged to support a pair of tubing strings in side-by-side relation within a tubing head. The units disclosed in the co-pending application are of specifically different construction depending upon the order in which they are to be landed in the tubing head. That is, the first hanger unit to be landed includes an annular section arranged to engage a seat extending throughout the periphery of the tubing head bore while the last hanger unit to he landed is provided with a compressible seal assembly which is operable to sealingly engage the first landed hanger unit and the second landed hanger unit with the interior periphery of the tubing head bore. While this arrangement has proven satisfactory in operation, the fact that each hanger unit of the assembly is essentially of a different construction materially increases the cost of the equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide multiple well completion equipment of the type described in which the hanger unit for each tubing string is of substantially identical construction, such units being arranged to seat on a supporting ring and to be sealed by an independent sealing assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of multiple well completion equipment of the type described including tubing string hanger units having improved means for supporting the tubing string for rotation about its axis after the hanger unit has been landed.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hanger unit of the type described which is operable so that it can be mounted in operative position with respect to the tubing string between the ends thereof, thus permitting the tubing string to be lowered below the final position to which the tubing string is supported prior to landing the same.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of well completion equipment having an improved sealing assembly embodied therein, such sealing assembly being compressed into sealing engagement and retained against movement longitudinally in either direction within the well head by means carried thereby such as conventional hold down screws or the like.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a sealing assembly of four-disk self-contained sandwich construction having means which is operable to be actuated into sealing engagement and retained in position by cooperating means engaging between two of the disks.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of multiple well completion equipment which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation and economical to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

3,118,69fi Patented Jan. 21, 1964 The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of multiple well completion equipment embodying the principles of the present invention showing a tubing head having a pair of side-by-side tubing strings supported therein by a hanger assembly embodying the principles of the present invention, the tubing strings being sealed within the tubing head by a sealing assembly embodying the principles of the present invention and connected with a head forming a part of the Christmas tree equipment of the well, the section being taken through the axis of the tubing strings disposed in side-by-side relation;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the tubing head taken along a plane at right angles to that of the section shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the manner in which the first tubing string is landed within the tubing head through suitable control equipment;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric exploded view illustrating the parts of the dual hanger assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric exploded view of a modified form of hanger unit of the present hanger assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional 'view of the assembled hanger unit shown in FiGURE 4 taken along a plane perpendicular to the line of juncture between the bridge plates of the unit; and

FIGURE 6 is a reduced isometric exploded view of the sealing assembly of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein well completion equipment in operative position which includes a tubing head, generally indicated at 10, of usual construction, which in the construction of the well would be mounted on and above a lower casing head or tubing head carrying a casing or tubing of the well. The tubing head 1t) is provided with a bore 12 of a size to receive a pair of tubing strings 13 in side-by-side relation. Formed in the upper end of the bore 12 is a counterbore 14 which defines with the bore 12 an upwardly facing shoulder or annular seat 16.

Landed on the seat 15 and supporting the tubing strings 13 is a hanger assembly, generally indicated at '18, embodying the principles of the present invention. Mounted Within the upper end of the counterbore 14 is a sealing assembly, generally indicated at 20, embodying the principles of the present invention, which is arranged to be compressed into sealing engagement with the interior periphery or" the counterbore 14 and the exterior peripheral surfaces provided by the hanger assembly 18 and to be retained against longitudinal movement in either direction by suitable means carried by the tubing head such as conventional hold down screws, generally indicated at 22.

The hanger assembly 18 extends above the tubing head and sealingly cooperates with a head 24 having side-byside flow passages 26 formed therein. The head 24 may be mounted on the tubing head 10 by any suitable means and, as shown, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 28 are provided which extend through corresponding openings formed in a flange 39 on the lower end of the head 24 and a flange 32 on the upper end of the tubing head 10. Preferably, suitable sealing means is provided between the head as, for example, an API ring 34 mounted in suitable grooves formed in the upper surface of the tubing head 10 and the lower surface of the head 24.

it will be understood that the usual fiow equipment constituting the Christmas tree of the well can be suitably mounted on and above the head 24. Moreover, the head 24- may be provided with a check valve (not shown) extending from the exterior thereof to the lower central interior thereof at a position exterior of the passages 26. Such a check valve would be utilized to apply test pressure to the above-mentioned space to test the effectiveness of the seal between the upwardly extending hanger assembly l8 and the head 24, the APE seal 34 between the head 2-4 and tubing head It} and the sealin assembly 29 between the hanger assembly and tubing head counterbore 14. It will be noted that access, as for example for circulating mud or the like, to the space defined by the interior of the tubing supported by the tubing head 10 and the exterior of the tubing strings 13 is obtained by a pair of diametrically opposed openings 36 formed in the tubing head, such openings being controlled by suitable valves or the like (not shown) fixed to the exterior periphery of the tubing head in diametrically opposed relation and in surrounding relation to the openings 36.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 3, the hanger assembly 13 of the present invention comprises a support ring, generally indicated at 38, of a size to fit within the counterbore 1d of the tubing head it for support on the seat 16 thereof. The hanger assembly '18 also includes a pair of hanger units 4t of substantially identical construction arranged to receive and support the tubing strings 13 and to engage the support ring 33 to thereby support the tubing strings from the tubing hanger lit. While the assembly 13 as shown in FIGURE 3 includes two hanger units 4%, it will be understood that more than two units may be provided if desired. Since both of the hanger units 4i; are of identical construction, a description of one should sufiice to give a clear understanding f both.

Each hanger unit '40 includes a tubular hanger bushing 42 having an annular flange 4 extending outwardly from the central exterior periphery thereof. The lower end of the hanger bushing 42 is exteriorly threaded, as indicated at 46, for engaging the interior threads formed on the upper end of the associated tubing string 13. The upper end of the hanger bushing 42 is provided with a frustoconical seating surface 48 suitably grooved to receive an annular sealing element 5d of any appropriate construction. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the interior of the hanger bushing 42 adjacent the upper end portion thereof is threaded, as indicated at 52, to receive suitable pipe 53 or the like (see FIGURE 2) used in landing the hanger unit. The central interior of the hanger bushing 42 is provided with an annular groove 54 which is arranged to cooperate with a back pressure valve (not shown) utilized when the hanger unit is landed. One embodiment of a back pressure valve which may be utilized in connection with the hanger units 4% is disclosed in our co-pending application Serial No. 659,424 filed May 15, 1957, now Patent No. 3,052,301. The construction of the back pressure valve, the manner in which the same cooperates with the groove 54 provided within the hanger bushing, and the manner in which the same operates is fully disclosed in our above-mentioned application to which reference can be bad if necessary,

Each hanger unit 4%} also includes a bridge plate member 56 which is of generally semi-circular configuration. Preferably, the bridge plate :76 is formed from a circular plate which is subsequently cut in half so that its arcuate extent is slightly less than -1 80. Formed in the central portion of the plate 56 is an opening or bore 58 of a size to receive therethrough the exterior periphery of the hanger bushing 42. Formed in the upper end portion of the bore 58 is a counter-bore or larger opening 60 having an axial extent substantially equal to or slightly greater than the axial extent of the annular flange 44. The counterbore 60 forms with the bore 58 an upwardly facing annular shoulder 62 which is arranged to engage the lower edge surface of the annular flange 4-4 and thus support the hanger bushing from the bridge plate 56. Preferably, an integral arcuate guide plate 64 extends downwardly from the lower surface of the bridge plate 56,

(l. the guide plate 64 being disposed adjacent the straight peripheral surface of the bridge plate.

As indicated above, the bridge plate 56 serves to rotatably receive the flange 44 of the hanger bushing 42 within the opening 60 and to rotatably suppont the flange on the annular shoulder 62. In or er to retain the hanger bushing 42 for rotation in the bridge plate '56 against longitudinal movement in a direction upwardly with respect thereto, each hanger unit ill includes a hanger plate member 66 of a construction and configuration similar to the bridge plate 56. The hanger plate an is provided with an opening or bore 63 of a size to receive the exter-ior periphery of the hanger bushing. The hanger plate 60 is fixedly secured to the bridge plate by any suitable means, such as bolts 79 extending through suitable openings 72 formed in the hanger plate and engaged within corresponding threaded openings 74 formed in the bridge plate.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the support ring includes an annular body member 7 6 provided with a downwardly facing annular seat 73 adjacent the outer lower periphery thereof for engaging the annular seat 16 of the tubing heard iii. Extending through the annular body member 7e is a pair of intersecting elliptical openings 89. Positioned on the body member 75 in diametrically opposed relation with respect to each other and out of phase approximately with respect to the elliptical openings 39 is a pair of inte ral depending leg members 32. Formed in the outer surface of each depending leg member 82 is an elongated vertical groove 34, the lower end of which terminates in spaced relation to the lower end of the leg member. A downwardly diverging guide slot 86 of a depth less than the depth of the slot 84- is formed in the lower extremity of each leg member in alignment with the associated slot 82.

The support ring 38 may be inserted into the counterbore 14 of the tubing head alone, by the use of suitable equipment (not shown) threadedly engaged in a pair of threaded openings 88 formed in the upper surface of the body member in alignment with the leg members 82. In this regard, the exterior surface of the guide plates is preferably formed so that they will engage within one of the elliptical openings 30 and thus guide the hanger units 4% into proper rotational relation with respect to the ring 33 when the latter is separately inserted within the tubing head 19. It is preferable, however, to insert the ring member 38 within the tubing head 19 in conjunction with the first hanger unit 49 to he landed the-rein. To this end, suitable means is provided for detachably connecting the hanger unit 40 with the support ring .38 and, as shown, the bridge plate 55 is provided with a pair of opposed countersunk openings 99 arranged to receive a pair of bolts 92 which engage in threaded openings 94 formed in the body member 76.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is shown a hanger unit 96 of modified form which, either alone or together with a similar unit, may be utilized in conjunction with the support ring 38 in place of one or both of the units 40 previously described. The hanger unit 96 includes a hanger bushing 98, which is similar to the hanger bushing 42, previously described and thus comprises a central exterior annular flange 169, tubing string engaging exterior threads 102 in the lower end thereof, and an upper exterior frusto-conical seating surface N4 having an annular sealing element 1% mounted therein. The unit 96 also includes a bridge plate 108 which is of generally semi-circular configuration of an extent slightly less than Formed in the central portion of the plate 198 is an opening 116 having a diameter of a size sufiicient to receive \therethrough the annular flange 1% of the hanger bushing 98. An integral arcu-ate guide plate 111, similar to the guideplate 64 previously described, extends downwardly from the lower surface of the bridge plate 10% adjacent the straight peripheral surface thereof. Extending upwardly from the arcuate peripheral edge or" the plate 198 is an arcuate peripheral flange 112 having an upwardly diverging interior segmental frusto-conical surfiace 114.

The hanger unit 96 also includes a pair of separate cornplementa-ry hanger plate members 116. The hanger plates 116 together are of substantially semi-circular configuration of an extent slightly less than 180, the hanger plates being separated along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the flat peripheral edge of the plates when disposed together. Thus, each hanger plate 116 is of substantially quadrant configuration and is formed with a semi-circular opening 113 therein having its axis disposed in the plane of separation mentioned above and displaced in an axially inward direction with respect to the axis of the opening 110 of the bridge plate 168. Formed in the central portion of each semi-circular opening 118 is an annular groove 12%) of a size to receive the annular flange 160 of the hanger bushing 98. Extending downwardly from the lower surface of each hanger plate 1116 is a depending flange element 122, the inner periphery of which conforms to the arcuate configuration of the opening 118 and the outer periphery of which conforms to the configuration of the opening 110 of the bridge plate 108. The arcuate peripheral edge of each hanger plate 116 is provided with a downwardly converging segmental frusto-conical surface 124.

It can be seen that the complementary hanger plates 116 can be moved radially into engagement with the hanger bushing 98 at a position adjacent the flange 109 until they are disposed in surrounding relation thereto with the flange lilt) disposed within the grooves 126 The depending flange elements 122 serve to engage within the openings 11!) of the bridge plate 168 to thereby properly position the hanger plates thereon. Finally, the segmental fIusto-conical surfaces 124 of the hanger plates 116 will engage the segmental frusto-conica-l surface 1-14 of the bridge plate to insure that the hanger plates will properly seat in the bridge plate.

The bridge plate 1G8 is provided with a pair of countersunk openings 125 to receive bolts, such as bolt 92 previously described for securing the bridge plate to the support ring 38. The hanger plates 116 may be secured to the associated bridge plate 1198 by suitable bolts 128 extending through openings 130 formed in the hanger plates 116 and engaged within threaded openings 132 formed in the bridge plate 198, as best shown in FIGURE 5.

As best shown in FIGURES l and 6, the sealing assembly 2% is of a four-disk sandwich construction including a pair of rigid outer disks 134 and 135, an inner rigid disk 138 and an inner compressible disk 24%. The rigid disks 134, 136 and 133 are preferably made of metal or the like, while the compressible disk 140 is preferably made of a suitable sealing material such as rubber or the like. All of the disks are preferably of circular form having a diameter of a size to fit within the counter-bore 14 of the tubing head 10. In addition, each of the disks is provided with a pair of spaced openings, 142, 14-4, 546 and 148 respectively, for receiving the upper end portion of the hanger bushings of the hanger units.

The disks are retained together by suitable means extending between the outer disks 13dand 136 such as a plurality of bolts 15% arranged at engage within a corresponding plurality of countersunk openings 152 formed in the outer disk 136 and to engage within a correspon ing plurality of threaded openings 154 formed in the outer disk 134. The inner disks 138 and 1% are provided with a corresponding plurality of apertures 156 and 158 respectively through which the bolts 15% extend.

The outer disk 136 and the adjacent inner rigid disk 138 have formed on their peripheries opposed oppositely inclined frusto-conical surfaces lull and 162 respectively. As best shown in FIGURE 1, these cooperating frusto-conical surfaces are arranged to coact with the hold down screw assemblies 22. Each hold down screw assembly may be of any suitable construction and, as

g shown, includes a screw shank 164 having a threaded section 166 formed on the inner end portion thereof and a conical extremity 165 extending from the threaded portion 166. The threaded portion 166 is engaged within a threaded opening 170 formed in the flange 32 of the tubing head, such opening having a counterbore 172 formed therein for receiving a sealing element 1'74 which also surrounds the shank 164. A shank receiving plug member 176 is threadedly engaged within the outer end of the counterbore 172 which serves to retain the sealing element within the counterbore.

It will be understood that while there is shown in FIG- URE 1 only one hold down screw assembly 22, that a plurality of such assemblies is preferably provided, as for example, three, four or more mounted in circumferentially spaced relation about the flange 32 to thus engage the frusto-conical surfaces 160 and 162 of the sealing assembly at circumferentially spaced positions therearound. In order to lower the sealing assembly into the counterbore 14 of the tubing head 14), the upper outer disk 134 is provided with diametrically opposed interiorly threaded openings 17 3 which are arranged to be engaged by a suitable tool (not shown) for performing this function.

Operation Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2, in landing the hanger assembly 18 and positioning the seal ing assembly 29 within the tubing head 1% conventional control equipment is utilized. FIGURE 2 includes a fragmentary illustration of a blow out preventer 18d having a lower flange 182 arranged to be mounted on and above the tubing head 19 by the use of suitable bolts, such as the bolts 28 previously described and the API sealing ring 34 previously described. The blow out preventer includes a central bore 184 of a size substantially equal to the counterbore 14 of the tubing head. It will be understood that the blow out preventer and other control equipment (not shown) also includes the usual control elements which are operable in a conventional manner to permit the tubing strings, hanger units and the sealing assembly to be moved into the tubing head 10 while at all times maintaining control in the well. The construction of the control equipment is conventional and forms no part of the present invention except insofar as it may be utilized in the operation thereof.

As indicated above, it is preferable to fixedly secure one of the hanger units 45) to the support ring 38, as by bolts 92, so that the support ring can be landed together with the hanger unit. Thus, utilizing the conventional control equipment such as the blow out preventer 180, the hanger unit with the support ring assembled thereto is connected to the upper end of the tubing string, after the latter has been made up, through the engagement of the latter on the threaded lower end 46 of the hanger bushing 42. The hanger unit with the support ring and tubing string connected thereto is then lowered through the control equipment, as by the pipe 53, until the support ring enters the counterbore 14 of the tubing head 10.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the tubing head 19 is also provided with a pair of guide and hold down screw assemblies 136 which are positioned in the central portion of the tubing hanger in diametrically opposed relation with respect to each other and approximately 90 out of phase with the openings 36 previously described. The guide and hold down assemblies 186, like the assemblies 22 previously described, may be of any suitable construction and, as shown, each includes a screw shank 188 having a threaded portion 190 formed on the inner end portion thereof and a generally cylindrical extremity 192. The threaded portion 190 is engaged within an interiorly threaded opening or bore 1% extending radially through the peripheral wall of the tubing head It). A counterbore 196 is formed in the outer end of the bore 194 to receive a sealing disk 19% which surrounds and sealingly engages the screw shank 138. The sealing disk is maintained within the counterbore by a shank receiving plug member 2% which is threadedly engaged within the outer end of the counterbore 196.

When the support ring 38 is to he landed within the tubing head 10, the guide and hold down screws are adjusted so that their inner extremities 192 project slightly into the bore 12 of the tubing head 10. The inward extent of the extremities 192 is such as to engage within the guide slots 86 formed in the leg members of the support ring 38. Since the guide slots diverge outwardly, their engagement with the extremities 192 disposed within the bore 12 during the downward movement of the support ring within the tubing head will cause the support ring to move into proper rotational position within the tubing head as this downward movement continues. When the seat 78 of the support ring engages the seat 16 of the tubing hanger 10, the hold down screw extremities 152 will be engaged within the lower end of the slots 84. The support ring is retained in proper position on the tubing head seat by simply turning the guide and hold down screws inwardly until the extremities 1% are engaged I within the bottom of slots 84.

The second tubing string and hanger unit is landed on the support ring retained tubing head it} in the manner indicated above through the use of the control squiprnent in the usual way. In this regard, the guide plate 64 serves to guide the second hanger unit into proper position with respect to the first. If the second hanger unit when lowered is improperly oriented, the bottom of the guide plate will engage the upper surface of the support ring and further lowering cannot be accomplished until the guide plate is properly aligned. The bridge plate and hanger plate of the first unit define with the support ring and tubing hanger counterbore 14 a semicylindrical pocket within which the semi-cylindri'cally shaped bridge plate and hanger plate of the second unit is received when the latter is finally landed.

Where the hanger units 96 are utilized, the above procedure may also be followed. However, it will be noted that the construction of the hanger unit 96 is such that by separating the hanger plates 116, the hanger bushing and tubing string 13 carried thereby can be lowered through the opening 110 of the associated bridge plate and associated opening 80 of the support ring for any desired purpose, as for example, in washing the well, fitting the packer or the like. This permits the tubing string to be lowered to a position lower than it will assume when landed, which is desirable in certain operations such as those indicated above.

When it is desired to land the hanger bushing, the hanger plates 116 are moved together in surrounding relation to the flange 190 until the latter is rotatably received within the grooves 120, the hanger bushing is then lowered until the hanger plates engage the associated bridge plate 108 at which time the segmental frusto-conical surfaces 114 and 124 will guide the two hanger plates together and into proper relation so that the depending flange elements 122 will enter into proper relation within the proper opening 110.

After both of the hanger units have been landed within the tubing hanger, the sealing assembly 26 is then lowered through the control equipment into the counterbore 14 of the tubing head, the upper end portion of the hanger bushings entering within the aligned openings in the sealing assembly disks. Of course, when the sealing assembly is inserted thebolts 150 are loosened somewhat so that no expansive compression is applied to the compressible sealing disk 140. When the sealing assembly has been lowered into proper vertical position within the counterbore 14, the hold down screw assemblies 22 are actuated to move the conical extremities 168 into wedging engagement between the opposed frusto-conical surfaces 168 and 162. This movement of the hold down screws will effect a relative movement of the inner rigid disk 38 and outer rigid disk 13d toward each other, thus compressing the compressible disk 14% therebetween. Compression of the disk 1% will expand the latter into sealing engagement with the interior periphery of the counterbore of the tubing head 10, the adjacent exterior periphery of the hanger bushings 4-2 and the exterior periphery of the bolts 15G extending therethrough. It will also be noted that the hold down screw assemblies 22 serve to maintain the sealing assembly 24) in proper operative position against movement longitudinally within the counterbore in both directions and that such securement is effected independent of the hanger assembly.

It will be understood that the sealing assembly 20 of the present invention is of general utility and is not limited to the application as shown wherein it provides a seal between a pair of tubing strings and a tubing head. For example, the assembly could be readily provided with a single opening to effect a seal between a single tubing string and tubing head. Moreover, the sealing assembly could readily be utilized as a blind seal within a tubing head bore or the like, where no openings are provided therein.

It will be understood that after the tubing head is made up in the manner indicated above, the control equipment, including the blow out preventer 180, is removed from the tubing head and replaced by the Christmas tree equipment of the well, including the head 24- previously described. In this regard it will he noted that the lower end of the flow passages 26 are formed with downwardly diverging frusto-conical surfaces 2tl2 which are arranged to receive and cooperate with the frusto-conical surfaces 43 of the hanger units. Preferably the surfaces 48 have a taper which is slightly steeper than the taper of the seating surfaces 202 so that when they are initially contacted they diverge slightly from one another. When the bolts 28 are tightened to bring the head 24 down onto the tubing head 10, the upper ends of the hanger bushings are flexed slightly inwardly within the elastic limitation of the metal until the cooperating surfaces are in parallel cont-acting relation with one another.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of his invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for multiple completion of wells, the combination comprising a Well head having a bore extending therethrough of a size to receive a plurality of tubing strings in side by side relation, a hanger bushing for each tubing string disposable in said well head bore in side by side relation, means for supporting said hanger bushings in said tubing head in side by side relation against movement longitudinally downwardly within said bore, compressible sealing means, and means independent of said hanger bushings and said supporting means for mounting said sealing means within said bore for securement therein above said supporting means against longitudinal movement in either direction and for compressing said sealing means into sealing engagement with and throughout the periphery of said bore and the exterior peripheries of said hanger bushings, said hanger bushing supporting means comprising an annular support member, upwardly facing seat means in said well head bore downwardly facing seat means on said annular member for supportingly engaging said upwardly facing seat means in said Well head bore, said annular member having upper surface means and opening means extending therethrough for receiving the tubing strings, and sector shaped plate means for rotatably receiving each hanger bushing therein and engaging the upper surface means of said annular 9 member to suspend the associated hanger bushing therefrom.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 including an exterior annular flange on the associated hanger bushing, and wherein the sector shaped plate means associated with each hanger bushing comprises a pair of superposed sector shaped plates of 189 extent, the lower surface of said plates being engageable with said annular member and having an upwardly facing annular groove rotatably receiving and supporting said exterior annular fiange.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 including an exterior annular flange on the associated hanger bushing, and wherein the sector shaped plate means associated with each hanger bushing comprises a lower sector shaped plate of 180 extent engageable with said annular supporting member and having a central opening formed therein, and a pair or" upper sector shaped plates of 90 extent movable together to form a central opening having an annular groove formed therein for receiving and supporting said exterior annular flange, said pair of plates together having depending portions adjacent the lower end of the opening therein for engaging within the opening in said lower plate.

4. A hanger assembly for suspending a plurality of tubing strings from a Well head bore in side by side relation comprising an annular support member of a size to be received in the well head bore, downwardly facing seat means on said support member for engaging cooperating upwardly facing seat m ans in the well head bore to suspend said support member within the well head bore, said annular member having upwardly facing surface means and opening means extending therethrough for receiving a plurality of tubing strings in side by side relation, and a sector shaped hanger element for each tubing string cooperable together to form a substantially complete annular structure of size generally corresponding to the size of said annular member for supportingly engaging the upwardly facing surface means of said annular member, each of said han er elements having means thereon for receiving and suspending a tubing string therefrom in a position to extend through the opening means of said annular member when said hanger elements are supported in cooperating relation by said annular member, including a tubing hanger bushing threaded to receive the upper end of an associated tubing string for rotary movement and means for selectively independently ixing any one of said hanger elements in proper supported engagement with said annular member, the arrangement being such that the remainder of said hanger elements can be independently moved into supported engagement with said annular member and cooperating relation to said one hanger element, said hanger bushing mounting means comprising an exterior annular flange on said hanger bushing, the associated hanger element having an opening therein for receiving said hanger bushing, said opening having an annular groove formed therein for rotatably receiving said annular fian e and a sector shaped apertured plate arranged to be disposed in superposed relation to said hanger element.

5. A hanger assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said hanger bushing mounting means comprises an exterior annular flange on said hanger bushing, the associated hanger element having an opening therein of a size to permit passage of said annular flange therethrough and a pair of sector shaped pla es of an arcuate extent approximately one-half the arcuate extent of said hanger element movable together to form a structure of generally corresponding size to said hanger element having an opening therein provided with an annular groove for rec g said annular flange, said plates having depending portions adjacent the lower end of the opening thereof for engaging within the opening within said hanger element.

6. A hanger assembly comprising an annular support mcm er having a downwar -ly facing annular seat, a horizontal upper surface and opening means extending longitudinally therethrough, a pair of sector-shaped hanger plates of substantially extent having lower horizontal surfaces for engaging the upper horizontal surface of said annular member, each of said hanger plates having an opening extending centrally therethrough, a pair of tubular hanger bushings, means for mounting each of said hanger bushings within the opening of an associated hanger plate, said hanger bushing mounting means including an exteri r annular flange on the associated hanger bushing, and means associated with said hanger plate defining an annular groove for rotatably receiving and supporting said annular flange, and means for selectively independently either of said hanger plates in engagement with said annular member with the hanger bushing mounted thereon in alignment with the opening means of said annular member.

7. A hanger assem ly as defined in claim 6 wherein said groove defining means comprises annular inwardly and upwardly facing surface means recessed in the upper end of the Wall defining the opening of the associated hanger plate, and a complementary apertured plate detachably mountable on said hanger plate.

8. A hanger assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said groove defining means comprises a pair of separable sector shaped elements of substantially 99 extent movable together to form a structure complementary to the associated hanger plate, said complementary sectorshapeu elements, having a central opening extending therethrough provided with said annular groove centrally therein and depending portions adjacent the lower end of the opening therein for engaging with n the opening of the associated hanger plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,635,630 Nolan Aug. 13, 1912 1,529,597 Owen Mar. 1 1925 1,536,680 McLaine May 5, 1925 2,122,671 Rasmussen June 28, 1938 2,192,110 Szlapka Feb. 27, 1940 2,207,255 lesson luly 9, 1940 2,237,680 1941 2,616,689 Ecliel Sept. 16, 1952 2,7Q9,091 Rector May 24, 1955 2,746,775 viay 22, 1956 2,794,505 Alien Jun- 4, 1957 2,824,757 'shodes Feb. 25, 1958 2,330,665 Apr. 15, 1958 2,934,148 Allaire Apr. 26, 1960 2,939,727 Allen lune 7, 1969 3,Gll,552 Rhodes Dec. 5, 1961 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE COMPLETION OF WELLS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A WELL HEAD HAVING A BORE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE A PLURALITY OF TUBING STRINGS IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION, A HANGER BUSHING FOR EACH TUBING STRING DISPOSABLE IN SAID WELL HEAD BORE IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID HANGER BUSHINGS IN SAID TUBING HEAD IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION AGAINST MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY DOWNWARDLY WITHIN SAID BORE, COMPRESSIBLE SEALING MEANS, AND MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID HANGER BUSHINGS AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SEALING MEANS WITHIN SAID BORE FOR SECUREMENT THEREIN ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION AND FOR COMPRESSING SAID SEALING MEANS INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH AND THROUGHOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BORE AND THE EXTERIOR PERIPHERIES OF SAID HANGER BUSHINGS, SAID HANGER BUSHING SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR SUPPORT MEMBER, UPWARDLY FACING SEAT MEANS ON SAID ANNULAR MEMBER FOR SUPPORTINGLY ENGAGING SAID UPWARDLY FACING SEAT MEANS IN SAID WELL HEAD BORE, SAID ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING UPPER SURFACE MEANS AND OPENING MEANS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING THE TUBING STRINGS, AND SECTOR SHAPED PLATE MEANS FOR ROTATABLY RECEIVING EACH HANGER BUSHING THEREIN AND ENGAGING THE UPPER SURFACE MEANS OF SAID ANNULAR MEMBER TO SUSPEND THE ASSOCIATED HANGER BUSHING THEREFROM. 